Internal-combustion engine



July 22, 1930.

H. CAMINEZ INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 2,' 1927 LWL/246 NVENTOR l lllE A W513i@ A TTORNE 5'/ Patented July 22, 1930 "UNITED` STATES rmrnr omer.

'HRoin CAMINEZ, or FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR :no rAIRcHILn-CAMINEZ ENGINE ooRPoRA'rIoN, or NRW YoRR, N. Y., A CORPORATION or New YORK INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed April 2, 1927. Serial No. 180,498.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to the valve actuating mechanism therefor.

One obj ect of the invention is the provision of a support for the rocker arm of an internal combustion engine which will be simple and light inconstruction and which may eiciently support the rocker arm by means of which the valve of the engine is operated.

vision of a novel connection between the rocker arm thrust rod and the end of the rocker arm, which .may be adjusted in a convenient manner to permit adjustments of the valve timing.

A further object of the invention is lthe provision of a rocker arm support and a thrust rod connection to the rocker arm which Vmay be lubricated in an eflicient manner, the construction being such that the lubricant is retained adjacent the moving parts and prevented from being thrown olf in the rapid oscillatory movements imparted to the rocker arm.

invention will be apparent from the following description and from the attached vdrawings in which: ,Y a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing partV of van internal combustion engine embodying the present invention, parts thereof being shown in section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the `valve gear of the present invention; and

Fig 3 is a section of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 through the rocker arm supporting shaft. Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals in which corresponding numerals designate like partsin the various views, 10 vdesignates generally the cylinder-head of an internal combustion engine v11 of any suitable"construction. The 'cylinderhead is provided with t-he customary Aintake and exhaust valves one Vof which is shown at 12, having avalve head 13V seated in the cylinder-head andhaving a'stem portion 14 extending outwardly through the head of the cylinder. Thecustomary valve closing ineans Va-s shown,V comprises the two valve springsl andfl which press at their lower Another object of the invention is the pro-V Still further objects andV advantages ofthe ends against the spring abutment member 17 mounted on the cylinder-head and at their other ends against the spring retainer 18 which is suitably fastened as by means of the tapered collar to the outer end of the valve stem. The valve is thus maintained -seated in itsnormal position by reason of the outward thrust imparted by the valve springs.

The valve is actuated by the rocker arm which is mounted on an axis 26 on a rocker arm support 27 fixed to the cylinder-head. v The outer end of the arm is connected to a valve actuating push-rod 28 which is attached at its other end to a thrust member 29 suitably mounted in the guide sleeve 30 and actuated in a radial direction bythe cam 31 provided on the engine shaft 32. The invention is represented in the drawings as applied to a cam engine of the type set forth in my prior Patent No. 15S-4,045, patented July 27, 1926,V

altho it will be apparent that the invention is Y applicable to engines of other types.

The ,rocker arm support, as shown, com` `rprises an integral sheet metal member constructed of a material such as iron or steel having someslight inherent flexibility. The lower surface 35 of the support extends in a substantially lateral direction from the cylinder-head to `which itv isattached by a pair of attaching bolts 36 which pass through two openings provided Vin the end portion 37 which restson the cylinder-head. A separate sheet metal member 38 conforms to the shape of the surface 35 and the end portion 37 of the support and is provided to furnish additional point of connection to the cylinder-head.V Integrally provid-ed upwardly extending side 'ears 39 forman integral part of the supportsa strength to the support memberadjacent its place against the ends of the turnbuckle sock-V ets to definitely tix the rod 45' in its various positions of adjustment.

`onthe end of the rocher arm support and operates under tension' in transmitting. the outward thrust exerted on the rocker'arm when the latter is caused to actuate the valve. The two upwardly extending ears 39 on the rocker arm support are provided with openings which receive the bearing bushing 61. These bearing bushings receive the rocker arm shaft 62 on which the rocker arm 25 is oscillatably mounted, the rocker armbeingv guided in its oscillation between the two opposed bushings 61, it being understood that an individual rocker arm support is provided for each of the rocker arms of the various valves of the engine cylinder.

Y The rockerarm support axis 26 is spaced laterally'a considerable distance away from the axis of theengine cylinder with which it cooperates. 'The tension rod 45 is attached to a point on the end of the rocker arm support which is not very far from the direction of thrust exerted on the rocker arm `supporting shaft during the operation of the valve. As shown, the rocher arm-shaft 26 is positioned so that the tension rod 45which is preferably steel, assumes the major portion ofthe thrust exerted on the rocker arm shaft and on the support bracket. The balance of the thrust exerted on the support or Vbracket is applied to the connection at the end 37 of the rocker. arm support andas- 'sumed by the cylinder-head which is preferably constructed of aluminum or similar material. The major portion of the thrust on thefroclrer arm support istherefore transmitted to the engine case through the steel rod and a minor portion only is taken through .the aluminum cylinder-head whichj because ofthe material andthe heat at which it operates; has uncertain strength. The rod connecting the Vrocker arm support to the cam case is placed as close to the rocker arm axis as practical to relieve the cylinder-head to a Ylarge extent from the forces applied to the support. *v Y The rod 45 being normally under tension Vpulls downwardly on the rocker arm support,

slightlyflexing vit' adjacent therpoint offconnection of the support to the cylinder-hea d. thisbeing permitted by the flexibility of the material and thecomparatively flat shape of The rod 45 is so vadjusted that it normally pulls downwardly the support at this point of flexure. A constant strain will thus be exerted on the connection pins 42 and 47 and on the threads at the ends of the tension rod 45 so that no play or loose movements will obtain during the rapid reciprocation of thev valve actuating'mechanism. The rocker arm support will thus be held firmly in position and obj e'ctional. vibrational tendencies of the' rocker arm support will be eliminated. At the same time the clearance between the rocker arm roller 63 and the end of the valve stem 14 may be prevented from exceeding some etlicientvr clearance limit when the engine operates at different temperatures and when the various parts ofthe engine have expanded or contracted'. twillpbe noted that the axis of the rocker arm shaft is so spaced between the depending projection 40 and the point of Y engine axis by means of the supporting tension rod 45 which is exposed to the air and maintained comparatively cool, so that this end of the rocker arm support willbe maintained at a comparatively definite position in regard to the engine. The rocker arm axis 26 will thus be moved outwardly and inwardly about its two end' connections in `such a manner that the expansion or contraction ofthe engine cylinder will be compensated to some extent and the clearance between the rocker arm and the valve stem lmay be kept from exceeding some safe and eilicient dimension. The proportionate spa cing of the rocker arm shaft 26 between the connection to the exposed thrust rod 28 and the point of engagement with the valve stem somewhat resembles the proportionate spacing in a direction atright-angles to the cylinder axis, of its distance from the tw'o supporting ends of the rocker' arm support so thatfthe clearance between the roller 63 and the valve stem may be' kept comparatively constant at varying temperatures of the engine cylinders.

The end I0-of the rocker arm is provided with internal'threads 71 in which the threadin its proper vposition on the end of the rocker arm. At its lower end the seat member 72 is provided with a hexagonal end 7'5 by which it may bev rotated and adjusted within the threaded end of theroclzer arm. The seat vme1nber72 is hollow and a restriction 76 adjacent-its lower end is so formedv and curved asto provide a Yseat 7 7 which is enlgaged by the correspondingly curved portions of the rounded end 7 8 of the actuating rod 28. The roundedend 7 8 is provided on a short stem 7 9 which is welded or otherwise serted in place through the upper end of the Y adjustments of the valve clearance.

seat member and so formed that it lits the upper' end of the ball 7 8 on the thrust rod. This seat member is held in its proper po.

sition providing a bearing surface for theV end of the ball 7 8 by means of the retaining plug 8l which has external threads engag-v ing corresponding internal threads provided in the opening in the seat member 72. A slot 82 in the end of this plug 81 permits the adjustment of the plug and the adjacent seat 8() to their proper positions. It will be understood that the stem 79 of the actuating rod 28, being 'of smaller size than the restriction76 ofthe seat member permits the insertion of the stem through the larger end opening in the seat member 7 2 and after being so inserted the end of the thrust rod 28 is then welded or otherwise fastened firmly to the stem 79.- The connection provided be- M tween the rocker arm and the push-rod may be easily adjusted to compensate for wear or lost motion and permits `quick and convenient assembly or removal of the parts, and

The threaded plug 8l at the outer vside of the ball connection 7 8vand the engaging interiitting surfaces of the restriction76 and the ball 78 preventsV the loss of lubricant which is supplied to the moving parts of the connection just described. The lubricant is thus retained in thesmall space or chamber provided therefor as indicatedat'85 and is supplied to this chamber through a series of small holes 86 extending laterally through Y, the seat member 72. These holes 86 communicate with an annular space 87 provided in an intermediate portion of the seat member 7 2 as by cutting away the threads on the seat member adjacent `this position. The rocker arm is provided with an oil or lubricant passage 88 which extends from the anl nular space 87 to the bearing connection between the rocker arm and the shaft 62 on which it is mounted. The shaft 62 is provided with an axial lubricant passage 89 90 through the shaft soV that lubricant may be supplied through a pressure nipple or connection 91 mounted'at one end of the,

y rocker arm, and Valso supply lubricant through-the connecting passage 88, chamber 87 and holes 86 to the moving parts of the ball joint connection the end of the rocker.v

,rocker arm and other actuating parts are which is a ball member 96 similar tothe the appended claims'.

arm,` By reason of the lubricant passages and the arrangement just mentionedA the ,movinggpartsfof the valve mechanism mayA b e properly lubricated and the construction is-such that the lubricant itself will not be lost orthrown 0E during` the rapid oscillatory movements of the valve gear. The lubricant may be supplied in a convenient even when the engine in operation andthe in rapid movement. .j

f The lower end offthethrustrod 28 is attached rigidlyto the stem 95 Mat thefend `of connection provided at the upper end of the thrust rod. AvThe ball 96 engagesa seat! 97 which is provided at the outer end ofthe actuatingl plunger.` 29 which'is reciprocated` back and forth bythe Vvalve cam 3l.`

It will be understood that'the'construcscribed constitutes a preferred embodiment of the'inventio'n, itis to beunderstood that Y the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing fromthe scope Vofthe invention which is defined in What is claimed is:

L In an interna-l combustionengine, a cylinder-`head,'a Valve rocker arm,'a rocker arm supporttightly secured at one end tothe cylinder head and overhanging said cylinderheadY and comprisinga sheet of metal part having some flexibility in a direction parallel totfhe axis ofthe cylinder at points just oute side the place of attachment of the saidl supf port tothe cylinder head, actuating means for said rocker arm, and arigid brace connecting j the` outer end of said 1 supportto a` remote point onthe engine. j 1 Y 2; In an internal combustion engine, cyl- ,vinder-head, a valve `rocker arm, a rocker arm lsupportfixed to said cylinder-head for supporting said ,rocker arm on an axis overhang- "ing said cylinder-head, and comprising' a which communicatesV with a transverse hole' l sheet of metall havingscme flexibility in a di- '.re'ctparallel to the axis of the cylinder ati mannerto a stationary part of the valve gear tion described and shown with reference to l .one of the valves and valve actuating mechanism of the engine cylinder may be dupli'A cated in asimilar manner for the other valve 90 one end of said arm for actuating the samef and a bracef connecting the outer end of said support to a remote point on the engine and located in spaced relation to said actuating means. j e

3. In an 'internal r'combustion engine, acylluder-head, a valve rocker arm, a rocker arm support fixed to and overhanging said cylin- K der-head for supporting said'roclier arm and comprising a sheet of metal having some slight inherent flexibility and provided with yintegral upwardly extending bearing ears for said rocker arm, actuating means connected to one end oif said rocker arm, and a ten-v sioning brace connecting the outer end of said support to a point on tneengine located' inwardly from the cylinder-head, and means for adjusting the normal tension in said tensioning brace.

4l. ln an internal combustion engine, a cyl-V inder-head, a valve rocker arm, a rocker arm support fixed kto said cylinder-head at one end thereof and having some slight inherent flexibility in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, a tension rod fixed at one end to an outervportion of saidsupportand at v its other end to a remote part or' the engine andnormally pulling down upon the outer `portion of said support, said support having side members extending outwardly therefrom, a shaft mounted in said side'memloers and oscillatably supporting said rocker arm on 'an axis so located that the tension rod assumes the major part of the thrust exerted on said shaft, a thrust rod engaging-one end of said rocker arm for oscillating said arm, and lmeans for Vadjusting the tension of said p tension rod.

5. A valve rocker arm support comprising an integral sheet metal member having bent up' side ears integrally provided thereon forming rocker arm bearings between which a single rocker arm is adapted'to be mounted, said member having attachingrmeans at one end thereof by which it may be tixedly attached to an engine ycylinder-head, and a depending projectionintegrally provided at the opposite end of said support and having an attaching means therein-adapting it tobe connected to a support.

6. A valve rocker arm support for internal combustion engines comprising a metal member having side ears providing a support for a rocker arm shaft, said support having a laterally extending lower surface one end of lwhichfmay be rigidly attached to an engine cylinder-head, and an end extension on said support adapted to be connected to a supporting member,said support having a portion between the said ears andthe said one end Vwhich is of small overall thickness so that flexing of the support is permittedl at said portion. I

In testimony whereoi:I I hereto affix my signature. Y c v HAROLD cAMiNEZ. 

